Discussion: Just a Little Safety to Consider.

Just a Little Safety to Consider.Responsibility for Safety in most cases is a responsibility of the individual.

The hierarchy of safety;
1. Engineering the problem out of existence
2. Use administrative procedures
3. Require the use of Personnel Protective Equipment

Each team should have one member trained in basic first aid and CPR.

No games should be held when weather or field conditions are not adequate, lighting, darkness, lightning, wet fields, etc.

The playing fields should be inspected prior to games for holes, damage, stones, glass and other foreign objects. If corrections of unsafe conditions cannot be eliminated immediately contact the field umpire and or tourney director.

All team equipment should be stored within the team dugout, and not "in the field of play". Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of a team coach or delegated player.

Only the active players, coaches, and umpires are permitted on the playing field. (Defensive players, runners on base, up batter, etc.).

On-deck batters are not permitted.

Equipment should be inspected regularly by the player.

Pitcher must wear head / face protection, mask, chest protector, shin guards and protective cup at all times (males) for all games. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Players who wear glasses shall wear "safety glasses".

Player must not wear watches, rings, pins or metallic items during games
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All pre-game warm ups should be performed within the confines of the playing field and not within areas that are frequented by, and thus, endanger spectators (i.e., playing catch, pepper, swinging bats, etc.).

I agree with Airbosn that the responsibility for safety in most cases is the responsibility of the individual. If the safety wonks and the ambulance chasers had their way we would be playing virtual softball. Life is not without risks...softball is not without risks. In all my playing Ihave seen more people injured as a result of a slide or diving for a ball than any other way and I hope we aren't going to legislate diving for a ball out of the game. While I don't really object to the pitchers safety rule, I don't think it is going to have any impact with regard to safety either way. People hit up the middle because it is one of the biggest holes in the defense, not to hit the pitcher. With extremely minor exceptions (that should be dealt with individually) no one feels worse if a ball hits the pitcher than the batter (except the pitcher). IMO, legislating isn't going to change the number of occurances because the intent isn't there. I think, in most cases, we are guilty of looking for a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist and Ibelieve the main reason many well-meaning safety rules are put into place is to try and short-circuit liability claims. Safety rules SHOULD be put into place where a real, not perceived, problem exists. Otherwise, safety should be up to the individual, who should also assume the risks involved in participation.

A very serious safety issue was raised earlier concerning the inability of the pitcher to defend himself due to direct sun in his eyes. A very simple solution would be to hoist a screen of some sort on the backstop behind the batter. If there is an issue with the score keeper being able to see, a window could be cut out. This would only be necessary for a couple of hours. Usually this problem only occures on one field due to its orientation to the sun.

It would be inexpensive, fast to put in place and might save someones life. Just a thought. Thanks, Hombre

That would work on a lot of the larger old fashioned type back stops. And, in fact, a lot of them (SLC had it) have that plastic screening on them (like at/on or above the out door part of Home Depot or used on a hot house).

On the smaller clam shell shaped back stops the sun would probably be above the 15-20 feet of their height.

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